Apparatus for aerating liquids



March 29,1927.

W. HUCKS APPARATUS FOR AERATING LIQUIDS l Filed July 14, 192e 4 sheets-sheet 1 /m/f/yro/a MALI/IN HUCKG Filed July 14. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 VEE:

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29 .1 O y 1,623'011 March 927 W. HUCKS 1 I APPARATUS FOR AERATING LIQUIDS Filed July. 14, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES f4ritirarsi OFFICE] WILLIAM i-Iir'oirs,v or eruuniiii'auieuvuy LoNDoru` ENGLAND, AssIGNon or ONE-HALF ro SODA-STREAM LiMrTiiD; or CAMDEN 'iow'N,v ENGLAND. I

APPARATUS vEVOR AEvRA'l-ING LIQUIDS.

appiieauon fried Jury i4, i926, serial No. 122,440, and injereat Dritaiii February i7, ieee.

`This invention relates to apparatus tor` aerating water 4or other liquid in small quan-i.

aerated a discharge outlet for the aerated v`liquid controlled by 'a spring pressed device adapt-ed to act as a combined discharge valve and a sate-ty valve and means actuated by a hund-lever tor reciprocating the said piston like body whereby `movement. o'if' the said body in one direction eii'ects the discharge ot' the said aerated liquid. i In the said apparatus the receptacle (hereinafter referred to as the aerating receptacle) in which aeration effected is opeiiat itsv botet the liquid toni and liquid Hows from a reservoir `through the sail open bottoni into the said aerating receptacle so that under normal working.conditions itis always charged withv liquid. Y l l This invention has for its object to provide an improved and simpliiedconstructien otapparatus of the aforesai'd-lgind in which the aerating receptacle lis closed atther bottoni and open at the top so that theliquid to beaeiate'd may be poured in' atthe said ropen top of the said receptacle by an oper- 'ator as and when required t'oi' immediate aerating and discliarge,'b\it, it' ydesired the said apparatus may be provided with a reservoir adapted to deliver into the said aeiating receptacle at eacli operation ot the apparatus, a quanttyot' liquid equivalent to that discharged'.

I will describe my invention with, reference tothe accompanying drawings in f which Figures l and 2 shew in section vat rightangles to each other an apparatus for; aeratiiigv liquids constructed in accordance Figure Ushews in elel wi tli 'inyk ini'iention. vation 'a detail hereinafter referred to. Figures 3 and et' are sections shewing parts in differentV positions to that `sliewn in 'Figure 1, and Figures 5 and shew in sections,` at right angles toeacli other a .m'odied coni receptacle .l

,the `aerating receptacle 1 `end effe spring ltlie up struction oit apparatus to that shewnin the said Figures l and 2.

Referring more particularly to Figures l kand 2, theapparatus comprises a cylindrical ner-ating receptacle l which is closed at the bottom and has an inlet opening 2 at a suitable height trom the said bottom through `'which the liquid is admitted into thesaid `aeratingl receptacle. The aeratingl recepta lel `1 is provided with an upwardly 'extendingcylindrical part 3, which constitutes a housingfor lparts hereinafter described andthe said receptacle is supported on and -sfecured to: a base-piece 4 which, in the eX- ample sliewn constitutes a closure tor the bottom ot the said receptaele. The aerating receptacle l has a piston-like body reciprocal therein consisting ot a plunger 5 which is smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of the` part ot' the said receptacle in which the said plunger' reciprocates, the space between being covered by. a Aflexible valve .opening downwards A,as described in the specifications ot ourk aforesaid patents,

ylilxtending upwardly from Vthe plunger 5 is astein v7 havinga head `8 which constitutes a closure forthe lower end of a discharge `vessel 9 secured to the said head so. that it reciproeates with the said plunger. V.lisztending axially through the plunger 5, stein 7 and head 8 `is vapassage l0 through which the aerated liquid is expelled;7` upon the descent of the saidV plunger into the discharge vessel 9 from which it passes through an outlet spout 1l into a glass or other container placed in position to receive it. The discharge vessel 9is housed and guided in the upward extending part Soft the aerating and theV said part has a suitably shape'd slot- 12 formed therein through which the outlet spoutl ll projects, The outlet 13 et :the passage 10 is cont-rolled by a combined discharge and safety valve 14;

ywhich is connected to an operating handlever 15 by Ameans such that will permit the said valve to Open the said outlet when a predetermined `pressure is reached within and will cause the ico said valve to open and c-losethe saidl outlet at f .is attached toa slipper l` and uppery part of the ydischarge vesseltl pivotally connected to arms 18 of eccentric straps mounted on each side of an eccentric 19 on a shaft 2O rotatably carried in bean ing brackets 21 secured to the upper end of the discharge vessel 9, to which eccentric the aforesaid operating hand-lever 15 is secured.

Presuming the plunger 5 to be bearing upon the flat bottom of the aerating receptacle 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and that the said receptacle has been charged with liquid to be aerated (which may be poured in at either of the side charging openings 22 shewn provided with hinged covers 23) the operation of the apparatus is as follows :`Upon turning the hand-lever 15 in the direction of the arrow the eccentric 19 is turned on its shaft 2O and moves the eccentric strap arms 1S and the slipper 17 carried thereby downwardly as shewn in Figure 3) thereby ca sing the combined dis"- charge and safety valve 14 to be moved towards its seat until further downward movement of the said arms is prevented by projections 24 thereon engaging a fixed abutment which may conveniently be the upper end 25 of the extended part 3 of the aerating receptacle 1. As the arms 18 of the eccentric straps cannot now be m-oved downwardly further movement of the handlever 15 in the same direction turns the eccentric 19 in the said straps and raises the shaft 29 and consequently the discharge vessel 9 and the plunger 5 attached thereto are raised relatively to the combined discharge and safety valve 14 to close the outlet 13 of the passage 10 which closure is, however, not completely effected until the plunger 5 has been raised slightly from the bottom of the aerating receptacle 1 thereby overcoming suction effect which would occur if the said plunger were raised after ingress of air had been shut off by the closure of the said passage. To assist in overcoming the, aforesaid suction eti-ect the iexible valve (i may have holes 5a through it. Further movement of the hand-lever 15 in the same direction brings it into contact with an abutment which is shewn as being constituted by a rocking-post 26 freely carried on the upper part 3 of the aerating receptacle 1 and when in this position the plunger 5 has been raised from the flat bottom 4 of the said aerating receptacle and the outlet 13 of the passage 10 has been moved up against the combined discharge and safety valve 14 thereby stopping further ingress of air through the said passage 10 to the underside of the plunger 5. Further pressure on the hand-lever 15 will now cause it to bear on the rocking-post 26 as a fulcrum and, through the eccentric 19, simultaneously compress the spring 16 and lift the discharge vessel 9 and all parts connected thereto including the combined discharge and safety valve 14' and plunger 5 until the said plunger is seated against an internal flange, or constriction, 27 at the upper end of the aerating receptacle 1. Gas under pressure is now admitted by a pipe 28 into a chamber 29 from which it passes, through a finely perforated tube 30 into the aerating receptacle 1 and the aeration of the liquid is effected7 the pressure of the said gas acting upon the flexible valve G on the underside of the plunger 5 ensuring a gas-tight closure. Should the pressure in the aerating receptacle 1 exceed a predetermined amount the spring 16 of the combined discharge and safety valve 14 will yield sufficiently to allow the excess pressure to escape, Upon turning the hand-lever 15 in the reverse direction the eccentric 19 and the l arts carried by the arms 18 of the eccentric strap will be moved in an upward direction and thereby permitting the spring 16 of the combined discharge and safety valve to extend sntliciently to permit of the escape of any gas that may not have been absorbed by the liquid and further movement of the said hand-lever in the same direction will lift the said valve off its seating to permitof the discharge of the said aerated liquid, which discharge is effected by applying a slight downward pressure, through the hand-lever 15 to the plunger 5 whereby the liquid beneath the said plunger is forced through the passage 10 into the discharge vessel 9 above from which it passes through the outlet spout 11 into a glass, or other container, placed in position to receive it.

1f desired, a counting device may be provided to indicate the number of operations or the an'iount of liquid treated and drawn oit', the said device being operated by any suitable moving part of the apparatus. This is shewn by way of example in Figure 1 as being effected by securing a counting device 31 to the exterior of the upwardly extending part 3 of the aerating receptacle 1, the said counting device having a cranked operating arm 32 which projects into the interior of the said part 8 and engages with a camshaped slot Bil in a plate 34 (shewn in eleva tion in Figure 1") secured to the discharge ve, el 9 so that at each upward, or dowiu wanty movement of the said discharge vessel the said counter will be operated. Y

.instead of charging the aerating receptacle 1 with liquid by pouring the said liquid as and when required into thc said. receptacle through one, or other7 of the chargingv openings 22 as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 the said receptacle may be charged from liquid contained in a reservoir and also if desired means may be provided for cooling the said liquid. This may be effected as shewn in Figures 5 and 6 wherein the aerating receptacle 1. instead of being secured to a f ,season y.8

base-piece4 as hereinbefore describedwith reference to Figures 1 and2 issecuredtothe bottom lot areservoir 35 `for. con-.taining'the liquid .which entersthe said laetatirlg; ,receptacle through anv inletA4 opening 224 iiormed in lthe side `of the said receptacle. 1 Thereservoir 35 is provided with a tank 36 contain- Aing, vcooling medium,v suoli for. example `as ice,

slots 39 and 4.0 being formed in the said box, or casing, through which the hand-lever and outlet spout 11 respectively project. ln this constructiongot' apparatus. the counting device 31 is carried by a bracket 41 secured, above the outlet4 spout 11, to the upwardly extending part 3 of the aerating `receptacle 1, tlie..C1'a1ik operating :arm of the said counting device engaging a lcamshaped slot 33 in a plate 34which inthis example is secured tothe said outlet spout spout would cause the said countingdevice to he actuated. Itdes-i-red arl Open-bottom guard, such as that shewn l at 42 inFigure v6, may be secured to the box, or casing, 3,7

to protect. ,both the counting dev-ice .andthe outlet spout 11, a suitable aperture ,43 bein-g j termed in the said guard tliroughwhich the recording numerals of` the said c'ountingdevice can be seen. A

The liquid to be aerated may be supplied to the .reservoir :from an inverted bottle, or` inverted bottles, 44adapted to maintain the liquid in thelsaid ,reservoir `at apredeterinined level as shew-n and 4described in the speciiication off my before mentionedLetv ters Patent. The inverted bottles 44ans shewn supported inholders 45 secured toepposite sides oit' the box, or icasing,`37;troin which holders the liquid passes through inwardly proj ecting tubular extensions 46 formed on the lower part of the said holders into the reservoir 35 from which it passes into the aerating receptacle 1 through the inlet 22" thereot. The inlet 22a is preferably provided with means, such, for example, as a. pipe, or as shewn in Figure 6 a covered channel 47 on the exterior of the aerating receptacle 1 which is adapted to ensureI that only liquid that has passed to the bottom of the reservoir 35, and therefore has been subjected to the action of theA cooling medium, is admitted into the said receptacle. The reservoir 35 may be provided with any suitable means for draining it; in Figure 6 an outflow orifice 48 is shewn formed in the bottom ot' the said reservoir for this purpose, the said orifice being normally closed by a hollow plug 49 on the end of a springpressed tube 50 which extends upwardly through. ,the` top of thebox, or casing, 37 .andisprovided withaknob 5,1.byl which it ,can be'easlvinanpuiated ivheniequred. A ;-.l1ni on ,52 isl sheivll. Screwed into the .outerv end Qt.tlie:,.erlitiee 48 to-avhich a lexiblepipe is attached, `for conveying `the lliquid Y,discharged to .any desired place. 'lhespringpressed tube ,50, rnaybe provided4 with over- Aflow openings, or pertorations, 54through :whiehdiquid in the reservoir. 35 can pass ,into thev saidtube zand..,e1-way through the hnllowplug--49 totherflexibletube 58 should ,the liquid in the `said ,reservoir exceed, at

any time, a predetermined level.

. The tank `36 containing lthe coolingl medium -,(which wenwill presume to be ice) fior cooling .the liquid in the vreservoir 35 is provided Viat its bottom with substantially deep corrugations 55 upon the upper ends of whichtheicernormally beaitsand as it melts the water descends between thesaid corrngationszandacts to maintainthe liquid in the said reservoir cool. T he tank 36' is provided with an ovie-rlow pipe 56 the lower endet' i .whichpases ,through the saidtank, bottom so thateach ascent,or descent, .ofthe said the reservoir 35 ,and;t'lie.box, or casing, 37

, and has aunion 57 screwedthereon which is connected byya flexible-tube 58 to the union 52 sov that when the water inthe said tank vexceeds a predetermined level it willV over- .fiowinto .the said pipe and pass away by the pipe 53 to :any dcsiredplace.

providingthe underside kof the said reservoir with bosses 59 which bear on the bottom of .the said box, or casing, and ,screwing bolts 60. through `they said bottom into thel said bosses. v

-Inthe apparatus shewn in Figures 5 and Q6 the parts .that are similar to Athose in the apparatus shew-n inv Figures lland 2 Vare markedfivithlike numeralsoitrezterence and as they, :operate in precisely-the same, manner `no further description is necessary.

What I claim is 1. Apparatus for use in aerating liquids, the said apparatus consisting in, or compris ing, an aerating receptacle closed at the bottom and having an inlet opening, or openings, at a suitable height from the said bottom, through which liquid to be aerated is admitted to the said receptacle, a piston-like body reciprocal within "the said 'aerating receptacle and having an axial passage therethrough, a discharge vessel secured to and reciprocal with the said piston-like body, a combined discharge and safety valve situated in the said discharge vessel and adaptedl to control the outlet of the said axial passage, means for admitting gas under pressure into the said aerating receptacle, and handoperable means adapted to cause, at the proper tignes, the ,said piston-like body to ascend through the liquid in the said aerat` ing receptacle and close the upper end thereof, and the said combined discharge and safety valve to close the outlet of the axial passage through the said piston-like body, and after aeration of the liquid confined in the said aerating receptacle has been effected, to cause the said combined discharge and safety valve to open the outlet ott the said axial passage, and cause, or permit, the said piston-like body to descend and expel the aerated liquid through the said axial passage into the said discharge vessel irc-m which it passes through an outlet spout into a receptacle placed in position to receive it; substantially as hereinbetore described. 2. ln apparatus tor use in aerating liquids as claimed in the preceding claiming),` clause hand operable means adapted, when mov-ed in one direction, to tirst move the combinei discharge and safety valve downwardly towards its sating, then to move the pistonlilre body and the discharge vessel attached thereto upv-iardly relatively to the said cou.- bined discharge and safety valve to ell the closure of the outlet end of the axial pas! sage through the said piston-like body and afterwards to simultaneously move the aforesaid parts upwardly and when moved in the reverse direction to iirst permit the said combined discharge and safety valve to move upwardly oli its seating and then to simultaneously move the aforesaid parts downwardly, or permit the said parts to simultaneously move downwardly; substantially as, and for the purpose, hereinbefore described.

y 3. In apparatus 'for use in aerat-ing liquids as claimed in the preceding claiming clause l, the aerating receptacle provided with an extension adapted to constitute a guide and housing for the discharge vessel and the hand-operable means by which the said discharge vessel and the piston-like body are reciprocated, and the combined discharge and safety valve is moved onto and off its seating, and having a slot, or opening, through which the outlet spout ot the said discharge vessel lprojects and slides; substantially as hereinbeiore described.

4. In apparatus for use in aerating liquids as claimed in the preceding claiming clause l, means tor carrying the combined dis charge and saiety valve. and-tor moving it onto and oli its seating and for raising the piston-like body and the discharge vessel attached thereto, the said means consisting in, or comprising, a shatt,or spindle,y mounted in standards secured to the said discharge vessel, an eccentric on the said shaft, or spindle, and rotatable to a limited extent by a hand-lever, eccentric straps on the said eccentric, provided with means for limiting their downward movement, a slipper, or cross-head, pi votally connected to the lower ends ot the said straps and having the combined discharge and safety valve flexibly connected thereto and means, constituting a tulcrum, for the said hand-lever whereby at the proper time the said hand-lever acts to simultaneously raise the aforesaid parts; substantially as hereinbeiore described.

5. The combination with apparatus for use in aerating liquids as claimed in the preceding claiming clause l, of a reservoir Jor containing liquid to be aerated, means -for supplying' liquid to the said reservoir and maintaining the said liquid at a predetermined level, a tank within the said reservoir containing a cooling medium whereby the liquid in the said reservoir is cooled, and means tor admitting liquid from the said reservoir into the aerating receptacle, the said means being such as will ensure that only liquid that has passed to the bottom of the reservoir is admitted into the said aerating receptacle; substantially as hereinbefore described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication.

VILLIAM HUCKS. 

